Saturday, October 31, 2009

Late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, a 90's teal colored, 2dr Honda Accord was stolen from the 2700 block of Butano, (the court). License number to follow. It has a straightened coat hanger as an antenna. If you see this car, call 911 (CHP) and report it, or you can call Nina Mills (number available on request).

Thursday, October 8, 2009

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.

Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census... While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, the Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.

Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit www.bbb.org.

I was informed by a mailman that delivers on Edison at Norris, that there have been two (known) residential burglaries in that vicinity (near Mira Loma High) that involved the theft of firearms. In one burglary, only one handgun was stolen, but in the second one many firearms were stolen. In the words of the homeowner, "armfuls" were taken, (primarily rifles and shotguns). It is unknown how criminals got in (I forgot to ask), but it is apparent that the guns were not secured in a safe.

If you monitor the Sheriff Department Cyberwatch (http://crimemap.sacsheriff.com/cyberwatch), then you might notice more reports of residential burglaries. It is upsetting to lose property to intruding thieves, but a loss of a firearm puts a whole new perspective to the crime. Now some brazen person has an instrument that can maim or kill another human being. In this day and age we all feel the need to protect ourselves and property from those who might want to take it from us, but secure your firearms so that no one can get them without a lot of work, especially when you are not home (because usually if they want them and they have the time, they will get them).

Note: Chuck makes a lot of good points. As an added point, please do remember that it isn't lawful in California to defend property using lethal force. You can only do so if you fear imminent danger of death or great bodily injury to yourself or another person and you are acting to stop that immediate threat. We don't want any of the good guys ending up on the wrong side of a cell door! If there is interest, I would be happy to post more information on lawful firearms ownership in our State.